Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-07-31
THE DAYS OF 49,"
Romance and Tragedy of a c ALI
iornia Mining Town Many
Years Ago.
Judge Lynch's Court and Jury
and the Horrible Work
Performed.
JOHN AND MARTHA.

JOHN AND MARTHA.
A Tragedy Of Early California Mining
"In all the southern mines,n says
Mr.. Bancroft in his Popular Tribunals
l., there was no lovelier town than
Columbia, California, in early mining
times; but during the reign Of the
bowie knife and the pistol it was the
scene Of many an unlovely perform
snce.n
One of the noteworthy incidents to
which the above paragraph alludes,
occurred in the year '55. A gambler
named John Barclay married q pub
lie woman called Martha. On the 10th
of October they had been married
less than two months the event was
celebrated while Martha was absent
at an agency of hers at Chinese Camp.
1t was there that Barclay first met
her. On the date before mentioned q
miner named Smith got on rousing
spree. While in Martha's saloon he
accidently broke pitcher which was
standing on the counter. A fistic skir-
mish followed, and high words arising
from the accident. Martha was get
ting the worst of ii, when Barclay en-
tered, drew a pistol and shot Smith
dead.
The miners were furious and i'm
mediately called meeting to decide
what to do with Barclay. Jake Heck
endon, editor of the Columbia Clipper,
was nominated judge and jury of
twelve appointed. The sheriff and
hi- subordinstes were easily overcome
and the Jail doors were beaten In with
axes and crowbars, and the prisoner
was brought forth. Barclay well
knew the meaning Of it all, and on
reaching the jail door made a deeper
ale effort to escape. But on him, all
at once, fell fifty men amidst horrible
imprecations and cries of "hsng him.
up with him." "Put him through
"Swing him up"
Beneath the ominous beams of the
Tuolume Water company's fiume,
where 1t crosses the Gold Springs
road, the turbulent tribunal assem- bled
and sat. Here ring was formed and
the prisoner, with John Oxley, who
had been appointed his counsel, plac.
ed within 1t. There were also the
judge and jury. with lawyer Coffroth
Ms prosecuting attorney, though he
would gladly have seen Barclay free.
John Ward moved that the jury be
sworn, when the crowd shouted: "No
humbug. Go ahead" The formali-
ty Of swearing the jurors being over,
the witnesses were then called. 1t
proved simple case: Smith was
drunk. aud Martha, angry that he
should break her pitcher, applied abu.
sive epithets, whereupon Smith selz-
ed and handled her roughly, and Bar.
clay, entering at the moment, shot
him. The whole affair did not occupy
five minutes.
Meanwhile the crowd we're noisy
and impatient. Martha Barclay was
called by the defense to testify. Then
the mob began afresh, mo, no !"
Away with her !" "Of of" "Put
her awayw "Bring hyens to testi.
fy" Aud these great American JUS
tice lovers would not let the hated
object come near the ring.
Heckendon, fearing that the crowd
would become frantic, then an nounced
that the counsel on either side would
address the jury. "Cut IL short"
came from the rabble. zone minute
"apiece!n Quick" short"
Coffroth, for the prosecution, open
ed and was listened to with attention
and applause. for, though the prisoner
was his friend, the eyes Of the camp
were upon him. oxIey, for the de-
fense, could scarcely be heard at all.
He begged them to consider what they
were about TO do. Enough, enough"
was the reply. He spoke of the laws,
when he was interrupted with
Damn the laws!'' mo, no! up with
him.
While letter was being written for
Barclay to his home, the county sheriff
arrived ut the scene and made fruit
less attempt to rescue the prisoner.
called upon the people To assist hun
In the discharge OF his duty. With
almost superhuman efforts he oeat
down the rabble between himself aud
Barclay, aud with knife attempted
to cut the rope which held him, when
he received severe blow from pis-
tol on the head and was caught and
dragged back into the crowd. The re-
mainder Of this diugraceful tragedy 10
thus described by an eye witness: